Force Coach Cron Demands Immediate Response After Opening Round Defeat
Western Force coach Simon Cron has issued a stern warning to his players following their heavy opening round defeat to the Brumbies, insisting there is no time for self-pity as they prepare for a crucial second-round clash.
The Force were comprehensively beaten 56-24 by the Brumbies at HBF Park on Saturday, despite a promising start that saw them dominate possession and territory in the opening quarter.
Promising Start Turns Sour
In the first 20 minutes, the Force looked poised to take control of the match, enjoying more than 80 percent possession and building a 10-0 lead. They kept the Brumbies scoreless and largely contained until the 23rd minute, when Charlie Cale's try opened the floodgates for the visitors.
From that point, the Brumbies piled on 56 points over the remaining 57 minutes, exposing the Force's vulnerabilities. By the 50th minute, the deficit had ballooned to 28-10, leaving the home side with a mountain to climb.
Cron's No-Nonsense Approach
Cron was unequivocal in his post-match assessment, emphasizing the need for immediate action rather than dwelling on the loss. "You don't get to cry about it, you don't get to mourn, 'oh, we played a poor game,'" he stated bluntly.
"We've got to review straight away, get the fixes that are most critical for the team — we had a discussion in the sheds around that — and then get back out on that park and start fixing it," Cron added, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
Panic and Poor Execution
The coach pinpointed panic and skill execution as key issues once the Brumbies began to score. "We definitely started chasing, and you could see that in those last three tries," Cron observed.
He elaborated on the breakdown in discipline, noting that chasing the game led to further errors. "When we were chasing the game, we've got to be better than that with our skill execution, because we started chasing, and then we knock it on and let them transition all the way to our line," Cron explained.
Cron also criticized the team's kicking strategy, which yielded little reward despite significant effort. "Some of our kicking strategy, getting the ball behind them, we did a lot of work out there for very little reward. We need to be better," he admitted.
Captain's Perspective
Force captain Jeremy Williams echoed his coach's sentiments, acknowledging that the team strayed from their effective early gameplan. "That first 20 minutes, we were winning territory, applying pressure and although we didn't come away with all the points, we still had points on the board," Williams recalled.
However, he identified several areas of concern that emerged as the match progressed:
- Sloppy skill execution
- Breakdown deficiencies
- Narrow defensive structure
- Discipline lapses
"We were quite narrow out there and it's something we'll look at during this week and how we can fix it," Williams said, dismissing heat as a factor in the performance.
Injury Concerns
The defeat was compounded by injuries to key forwards Nick Champion de Crespigny (knee) and Harry Johnson-Holmes (rolled ankle). Cron expressed hope for their speedy recovery, as their absence could further challenge the team's depth.
Looking Ahead
With a visit from the Blues at HIF Health Insurance Oval in Joondalup next Saturday, Cron's message is clear: the Force must learn quickly from this setback. The coach's refusal to allow mourning underscores the competitive nature of Super Rugby, where early season momentum can define a campaign.
As the team regroups during the week, the focus will be on addressing the tactical and technical flaws exposed by the Brumbies, ensuring they enter round two with renewed purpose and precision.
